River cruises offer the opportunity to experience charming and historic destinations that are not typically offered by ocean cruises.  You won’t have to worry about fighting crowds to get a seat at the bar, sit on the deck or worry about getting stuck in a windowless cabin. Everyone gets a view on a river cruise. There’s a variety of exciting shore options offered.

Wake up in the morning to a fabulous new port, new scenery and new excursion options. Speaking of new, the destinations on a cruise on the lower Danube are a bit off the beaten path, so they are new to most travelers.

There are elegant, charming cities that still bear the scars of overcoming Communist rule, but they are also a testament to the resiliency of the human spirit. Looking for a relaxing and authentic cruise experience? GetAway Travel can help you book your river adventure.

Budapest, cowboys, Croatian culture

 Hungary’s capital, Budapest is an amazing place. The Danube flows through the city and the views on either bank are great. The Chain Bridge, a suspension bridge held up by massive chains, is a spectacular sight during the day or at night as is the Parliament Building.

Kalocsa, Hungary, in the Hungarian Puszta region, was formerly the seat of the archbishop. It is more than 1,000 years old. The town is surrounded by 8,000 acres of farmland where “red gold” or the pepper that give the world paprika, grows.

Bright floral murals brighten the streets of Kolocsa, you can visit the Paprika Museum and the House of Folk Art Museum. Horses have long been the main mode of transportation for the people of the region. The residents of the region embrace the past and continue to elevate horsemanship to an art form. Enjoy a fabulous demonstration at the Bakodpuszta Equestrian Center.

Vukovar is the biggest river port city in Croatia. The Central Cross is a 40-ton monument located at the confluence of the Vuka and Danube rivers. Made of white Brac and Pazin stone, it honors the defenders of the fight for Croatian freedom in October 1998.

Eltz Manor is an 18th century Baroque palace damaged during the 1991 Battle of Vukovar, but now fully restored. The Vukovar City Museum is located here. More than 1,500 Croatian and European works of art are on display. You can climb the Vukovar Water Tower to get some great views of the city. The tower is a testament to what the city went through during the war, it sustained 600 direct hits, but remains standing.

Osijek is a short distance from Vukovar and is the fourth largest city in Croatia. The economic and cultural center of Eastern Croatia, it embraces its rich history, but also has interesting modern attractions. Indeed, the city’s top attraction, Tvrda, a Baroque fortress, has quaint cobblestone streets within its preserved fortified walls, as well as trendy cafes and galleries.

Inside the walls you will find an eclectic mix of Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance architecture due to rebuilding.

The main square includes Osijek Cathedral as well as the Museum of Slavonia which houses a vast collection of historical and cultural artifacts dating back to prehistoric times, artwork and a collection of natural history items of fossils, minerals, flora and fauna with some great interactive exhibits.

The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, on the square, is a Baroque style church with an exterior that features intricate sculptures and domed towers. There are amazing frescoes inside, elaborate altars with ornate carvings and stunning stained glass windows.

The Iron Gate, wine country and Dracula

 The Danube wanders through wide valleys and stretched out countrysides until it gets to an area between Serbia and Romania. At the area known as the Iron Gate, it narrows to less than a mile wide with imposing red cliffs on each side. Here Mother Nature and the river carved a gash between the Carpathian and Balkan mountains. In this forbidding area, the Golubac Fortress has stood guard over the Danube while control changed hands from Serbs, Hungarians, Bulgarians and Turks.

The Lepenski Vir is an archeological site and museum that stores finds from a culture that lived on the banks of the Danube 6,000 years ago. Sifting through the sediments here uncovered seven layers of settlements as well as the remnants of stone altars, tools, pottery, jewelry, statues and skeletal remains.

The Belogradchik Fortress in Vidin, Bulgaria is a Roman fortification built to take advantage of natural rock formations of between 320 and 820 feet high on three sides. The views from the top of the fortress are breathtaking.

The first wine school opened in Vidin in 1887. The area produces high-quality dry white and sparkling wines as well as elegant reds with a distinct fresh and fruity aroma. You can tour the Bononia, Vidinski Games or Los Dos Alamos wineries. The Magura Winery is famous for what is referred to as the Bat Gallery, a cave with darkness and humid that produces ideal conditions for aging great sparkling wine.

Nearby Ruse is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area was inhabited by monks for hundreds of years. They began living in caves carved into the hills and out of the rock they carved the Churches of Ivanovo as well as individual cells, monasteries and churches.

An Eastern Danube River cruise should, of course, include an obligatory visit to Romania’s Bran Castle, also known as Dracula’s Castle.

Do some exploring in Brasov first. Here you’ll see lovely medieval buildings painted in bright colors as well as the Town Hall and Black Church, the only two original buildings still standing after a devastating 17th century fire. Both are Gothic style architecture and the Black Church is easily one of the most impressive churches in Eastern Europe. It has high ceilings, an impressive pipe organ, fabulous stained glass windows and an extensive collection of Ottoman-era prayer rugs. The striking neo-Gothic architecture of Beth Israel Synagogue makes it a “must see” site to visit.

Nearby Peles Castle was the summer residence of King Carol I. The castle reflects architectural styles of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance. The surrounding gardens are incredible. There is a profusion of flowers, fountains, sculptures and manicured garden areas.

The Peles Castle, as well as Bran castle have great collections of medieval art, furniture and weapons on display.

How about it? Are you up for an adventurous cruise on the Eastern Danube? The travel advisors at GetAway are ready to help you out. Call (262) 538-2140, e-mail: sue@getaway.travel or paul@getaway.travel